Here are previews of plays taking place from November 14-20, 2023 including a look at productions starting this week, those continuing this week, and those closing this week. Click on the title to go to the full preview. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre. Check back every week for the weekly theatre preview. Jump to Featured Events, Event Previews, Event Listings, Coming Soon.
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Murder, Murder Everywhere – Musical "Chicago," Guns and All, on way to New Brunswick People do not get murdered every minute in the musical Chicago – it is maybe very three or four minutes. The tuneful musical Chicago, about two women killers, and I mean KILLERS, will be staged at the State Theatre in New Brunswick Saturday and Sunday, November 18 and 19, and old New Brunswick will never be the same.
Avenel Performing Arts Center presents "The Godfather's Meshuggener Wedding" (AVENEL, NJ) -- The Avenel Performing Arts Center presents The Godfather's Meshuggener Wedding from November 17-19, 2023. In this hilarious show, "Don Borleone's" daughter has decided to tie the knot with Bernie Goldberg at the wackiest wedding of all history. The show has all the trimmings of a real wedding where YOU, the audience play the role of wedding guests as the characters mingle throughout the tables and treat everyone as "Part of the Family."
Hudson Theatre Works Opens Season With Early Pinter Masterpieces (WEEHAWKEN, NJ) -- Hudson Theatre Works kicks open its 11th Season with a double bill of one-acts by Harold Pinter, one of Britain's most influential modern dramatists. PINTER x 2 features two of Pinter's early works: The Dumb Waiter and The Lover. Like in all of Pinter's plays, seemingly ordinary events become charged with profound (though ever-elusive) meaning, haunting pathos, and wild comedy. Performances take place weekends from November 2-19, 2023.
The Strollers presents "Children of Eden" (MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- The Strollers presents Children of Eden across three weekends from November 3-19, 2023 at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts. From musical theatre greats, Stephen Schwartz and John Caird, comes a joyous and inspirational musical about parents, children and faith... not to mention centuries of unresolved family business! It's about humanity - our first steps and fumbles, trials and triumphs, and ultimately how we live with one another on this earth.
SCTC Presents "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" Next up at the South Camden Theatre Company's Waterfront South Theatre is "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," based on the award-winning 2003 novel by British author Mark Haddon and adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens. The production opens on Nov 3 and continues Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoons through Nov 19, 2023.
Music Mountain Theatre presents "Elf, the Musical" (LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre (MMT) presents a special four-weekend run of Elf, the Musical from October 27 through November 19, 2023. Get in the holiday spirit with the family favorite based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit!
Bergen County Players to present "Master Class" (ORADELL, NJ) -- Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America’s longest-running little theater companies, is excited to present the intense and powerful Tony Award-winning Master Class, weekends from October 28 to November 18. Under the direction of Alan Demovsky, this dramatic and profound play by Terrence McNally, one of America's preeminent playwrights (Love! Valor! Compassion!, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Ragtime, The Full Monty), is regarded as "rich, vivid," and "satisfying" by The New York Times. The drama about famed opera singer Maria Callas will coincide this year with the 100th anniversary of her birth.
Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents Disney's "The Little Mermaid" (PITMAN, NJ) -- Broadway Theatre of Pitman is presenting Disney's The Little Mermaid weekends through November 19, 2023. Based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, and the wildly popular Disney film, this musical staging of The Little Mermaid features a funny and fanciful book by Doug Wright, with the beloved score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Glenn Slater in an expanded but completely faithful form, featuring the rambunctious and persuasive "Under the Sea," the romantic expectation of "Kiss the Girl," and that anthem to longing and belonging, "Part of Your World."
Lantern Theater Company presents "Crumbs from the Table of Joy" (PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Lantern Theater Company continues its 30th anniversary season with two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage's dramatic gem, Crumbs from the Table of Joy. Director Bianca LaVerne Jones makes her Lantern Theater Company debut, leading a cast of Philadelphia theater artists that includes Monet Debose, Walter DeShields, Morgan Charéce Hall, Hillary Parker, and Brett Ashley Robinson. The production runs Thursday, November 9 through Sunday, December 10, 2023, at St. Stephen’s Theater, the Lantern's resident venue.
Pebble Players Youth Theater presents "Mean Girls" (SUMMIT, NJ) -- Pebble Players Youth Theater opens their season at the Oakes Center with Mean Girls High School Version across two weekends from November 10-19, 2023. It's literally so fetch! Don’t miss this fun show that will knock your pink socks off! Based on Tina Fey's hit film, Mean Girls in 2004, the creators of this Broadway show didn't miss a beat! You will be mesmerized by these charming but ruthless plastics!
Playhouse 22 presents "The Niceties" (EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Playhouse 22 presents The Niceties, a play by Eleanor Burgess, across two weekends from Saturday, November 11 to Sunday, November 19, 2023. Part of the theater's "On the Edge" black box series, The Niceties focuses on a conversation between a student and her professor as they debate on how American history is taught from varying different perspectives.
Black Box presents The State of Unions: Edward Albee's "Marriage Play," "Counting the Ways," and "The Perfect Marriage" (TEANECK, NJ) -- While Black Box's ongoing monthly 'From A To Zoo' series covering all of Edward Albee's play will resume in December, this month brings an exclusive fundraiser workshop presentation to the stage in Teaneck! The State of Unions: Edward Albee's Marriage Play, Counting The Ways, and The Perfect Marriage, an (almost) never seen monologue about exactly what it sounds like, is the first pairing of these vital, rarely seen works from an American master.
Thursday, November 16, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Hudson Theatre Works presents PINTER x2: Two Plays By Harold Pinter at Theatre at THE WILSON SCHOOL, 80 Hauxhurst Avenue, Weehawken, NJ 07086
Thursday, November 16, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Pippin at Monmouth University - Lauren K. Woods Theatre, 370 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Friday, November 17, 2023 @ 6:00pm - The Godfather’s Meshuggener Wedding at Avenel Performing Arts Center, 150 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001
Friday, November 17, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Hudson Theatre Works presents PINTER x2: Two Plays By Harold Pinter at Theatre at THE WILSON SCHOOL, 80 Hauxhurst Avenue, Weehawken, NJ 07086
Friday, November 17, 2023 @ 8:00pm - The Strollers presents "Children of Eden" at Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Friday, November 17, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Pippin at Monmouth University - Lauren K. Woods Theatre, 370 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Friday, November 17, 2023 @ 8:00pm - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at South Camden Theatre Company, 400 Jasper Street, Camden, NJ 08104
Saturday, November 18, 2023 @ 2:00pm - Chicago, The Musical at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Saturday, November 18, 2023 @ 2:00pm - Pippin at Monmouth University - Lauren K. Woods Theatre, 370 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Saturday, November 18, 2023 @ 6:00pm - The Godfather’s Meshuggener Wedding at Avenel Performing Arts Center, 150 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001
Saturday, November 18, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Chicago, The Musical at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Saturday, November 18, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Hudson Theatre Works presents PINTER x2: Two Plays By Harold Pinter at Theatre at THE WILSON SCHOOL, 80 Hauxhurst Avenue, Weehawken, NJ 07086
Saturday, November 18, 2023 @ 8:00pm - The Strollers presents "Children of Eden" at Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Saturday, November 18, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Pippin at Monmouth University - Lauren K. Woods Theatre, 370 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Saturday, November 18, 2023 @ 8:00pm - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at South Camden Theatre Company, 400 Jasper Street, Camden, NJ 08104
Sunday, November 19, 2023 @ 1:00pm - Chicago, The Musical at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Sunday, November 19, 2023 @ 2:00pm - The Strollers presents "Children of Eden" at Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Sunday, November 19, 2023 @ 2:00pm - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at South Camden Theatre Company, 400 Jasper Street, Camden, NJ 08104
Sunday, November 19, 2023 @ 3:00pm - The Godfather’s Meshuggener Wedding at Avenel Performing Arts Center, 150 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001
Sunday, November 19, 2023 @ 3:00pm - Hudson Theatre Works presents PINTER x2: Two Plays By Harold Pinter at Theatre at THE WILSON SCHOOL, 80 Hauxhurst Avenue, Weehawken, NJ 07086
Sunday, November 19, 2023 @ 3:00pm - Pippin at Monmouth University - Lauren K. Woods Theatre, 370 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Sunday, November 19, 2023 @ 3:00pm - Pippin at Monmouth University - Lauren K. Woods Theatre, 370 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Sunday, November 19, 2023 @ 6:30pm - Chicago, The Musical at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Centenary Stage Company presents Disney's "The Little Mermaid" (HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- This holiday season, Centenary Stage Company presents Disney's The Little Mermaid from November 24 – December 10, 2023 in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center of the Centenary University campus at 715 Grand Avenue, Hackettstown, NJ. Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney's The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages.
The Theater Project presents "It's a Wonderful Life" – The Radio Play (SUMMIT, NJ) -- The Theater Project presents It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play with live, in-person performances Thanksgiving weekend, November 25-26, 2023, at the Oakes Center Theater (120 Morris Avenue) in Summit. The Theater Project recreates the Lux Radio Theater circa 1947 as twelve adult actors, four kids, a musician and one extremely overworked sound technician prepare for the big radio broadcast of the story made famous in the Frank Capra film. Audiences experience the tears and laughter of It's a Wonderful Life performed live, along with the novelty of seeing the backstage mechanics of an old-time radio broadcast.
Get Ready for Christmas with "A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage" Join us in the latest Jersey Arts Podcast with Gina Marie Rodriguez as we dive into the timeless charm of "A Charlie Brown Christmas," a beloved holiday classic that continues to dazzle audiences after more than 70 years. In our recent episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with director Robbie Simpson about his journey in the arts and his unique take on the stage adaptation of this cherished Christmas tale. From his early days as a child actor in the rich cultural milieu of Western Massachusetts to his current successes, Simpson shares how his experiences shaped his career in theater and led him to direct a production that captures the nostalgic joy and sophistication of a Broadway show.
Mile Square Theatre presents "The Christmas Tree Farm" (HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Mile Square Theatre presents the World Premiere of The Christmas Tree Farm by Adam Szymkowicz from November 30 through December 23, 2023. This is a heartwarming, bittersweet comedy about love and joy. Get a glimpse of your neighbors in a collection of delicious, bite-sized scenes including a breakup, a breakdown, a meet cute, four Santas, high school sweethearts, a film director and a group of carolers - all taking place at a Christmas Tree Farm! The production is directed by Rachel Dart.
Asbury Park Theater Company presents "Always... Patsy Cline" starring Sally Struthers and Carter Calvert (OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Asbury Park Theater Company (APTCo) presents Ted Swindley's Always... Patsy Cline starring Emmy Award-winning actress Sally Struthers and Broadway's Carter Calvert for nine performances from December 1-10, 2023 at The Palaia Theater inside Jersey Shore Arts Center in the neighboring town of Ocean Grove.
West Hudson Arts & Theater Company presents "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" The holiday production opens for six performances run starting December 1 at The Theater at WHATCo, 15 Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. South, Harrison NJ.
Algonquin Arts Theatre presents "ELF: The Musical" (MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre presents its holiday show, Elf: The Musical from December 2 through December 17, 2023. Based on the 2003 film, Elf: The Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner Elf.
Bergen County Players presents "A Christmas Carol, The Musical" (ORADELL, NJ) -- Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America's longest-running little theater companies, will ring in the holiday season with Broadway heavy-hitters Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens's musical adaptation of the timeless Charles Dickens tale A Christmas Carol. Hailed as "soaring, delightful musical theatre with a treasure house of beautiful, evocative music" (Talkin' Broadway), A Christmas Carol, The Musical tells the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge through a lavish and thrilling score. Music is by Alan Menken, lyrics is by Lynn Ahrens, and book is by Lynn Ahrens and Mike Ockrent. Musical direction is by Steve Bell, with choreography by Elisabeth Julia. Direction is by Larry Landsman, director of BCP's last season hit Ragtime, The Musical. Performances run weekends from December 2-17, 2023.
